Farm implement



JL E. RICH.

FARM IMPIJEMENT.

ArPLlkcATloN min ocT. 27. 1919.

Patented Aug. 31, 1920.

UNITE JAMES E. RICH, SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, .AS-SIGNOR TO LIBERTY IGNITION COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

FARM IMPLEMENT.

Application filed October 27,

To all y1li/min, may confer/11,:

Be it known that I, JAMiis Riel-i, a citizen of the United States, residing at Springfield, in the county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Farm Implements, of which the following` is a specification. A A j rlhis invention relates toa farm implement comprising a frame supported by wheels preferably including a motor-driven rear or tractor wheel and a steering wheel, and provided with a workingl member, such as a plowshare or a4 pair of plowshares, adapted to be manually raised and lowered relatively to the frame by an operator ridingthereon.

The invention is embodied in the improvements hereinafter described and claimed, relating to the means for carrying the worling member or members, and to the construction of the rear wheel.

Of the accompanyingdrawings forming a part of this speciication,-

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a farm/implement embodying` the invention.

Fig. .2 is a top plan view of the same.

Fig. 3 is an enlargement of a portion of Fig. 2, parts being shown in section on the plane of line 3 3 of Final. n f

Figa el: is a section on line l- -4i of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a side view of one of the draft beams and working); members hereinafter described. Y l

F 6 is a section online G- of Fig'. 5.

Fig. 7 is a section on line 7 7 of-l `igz 2.

The same reference characters indicate the saine parts in all of the gures. y 1

The frame of the machine includes longitudinal side members 12, 12, and transverse end members 13, 13, suitable additional intermediate transverse members be innemployed, if desired. |The side members 12 are preferably provided with raised offset portions 12", to which are suitably secuied downwardly projecting ears 111, which are apcrtured to receive a transverse axle 15.

16 represents a rear supporting wheel, which is journaled to rotate on the aXle 15, the wheel being preferably provided with annular hubs 16 projecting from its opposite sides. Said hubs are concentric with and spaced from the axle 15, roller bearings 17 being inserted between the hubs and the axle.

Mounted to osciliate on the center formed Specification of Letters Patent. Pdt-@1115961 flug'. 3l, 1920.

1919. Serial No. 333,440.

by the axle 15, are two draft beams 18 which are alike in constructiomso that a description of one will suiiice. I

The draft 'beam 18 is preferably'provided `with an annular hub 19, which is concentric with and spaced from the corresponding wheel hub 16, roller bearings 20 being preferably interposed between the hubs 16 and 19. rThe draft beamris providedwith an orifice 21 concentric with the hub 19, through which the axle 15 passes. The draft beam projects rearwardly from the axle, and its rear end portion is curved'downwardly and is provided with a working member, such as a plowshare 22, which may be of any suitable form.

rThe draft beam is provided with a forwardly projecting extension 18a, which constitutes a lever whereby the beam may be oscillated in a verticalplaneto raise and lower the member 22, manually operable .means being-provided for swinging the lever 18a. As here shown, I have embodied said means in a ra clrbar -23 vertically movable in slots in a frame part 25 fixed to the frame 12 and provided with a slot 26through which the forward end portion of the lever 18 extends loosely. A pinion 27 on a shaft 28 meshes Y fith the teeth of the rack bar 23.

The shaft 28 is journaled in fixed bearings 2f) on the frame, and is provided with a hand wheel 281. Rotation of the vshaft 28 by the' operator raises or lowers the rack bar v23 and corresponding-ly swings the lever 18L to raise or lower the draft beam `18 and its workingV member. It will now beseen that the draft beam oscillates and the rear wheel rotates, on a center common to both, and that the beam 18 and lever 18n project in opposite directions from said center. It will also be seen'that the rack bar 23 and pinion 27 constitute elements of means for preventing swinging,` Amovements of the beam 1S and its lever, exceptingby rotation of IsaidV pinion.

The described arrangement, therefore, prevents the frame and rear wheel from being` lifted by pressure ofthe working member againstthe soil in theusual operation of the machine, it being evident that lifting` pressure on the working member at 'one side of the center ofoscillationris counteracted by the described connections between the lever 18a and the frame of the machine, at the opposite side of said center.

The draft beam is preferably provided with a disk eolter 30, adapted to out a slit 22 are preferably employed, the

in advance of the cutting edge of the plowshare.

As best shown by Fig. 2, two plowshares mold-boards facing in opposite directions. When one plowshare is in use, the other is elevated,

each draft beam being provided with independent manually operated raising and lowering means.

A gasolene or other motor 31 may be mounted on the forward portion of the frame, and is connected with the rear wheel by suitable driving connections which, as here shown, includesproeke't wheels 32 fixed to the wheel, and sprocket chains 33 connecting the wheels 32 withother sprocket Wheels 34 driven by the engine.

T he rear wheel 16 supports the rear portion of the frame, and the forward portion is supported by a steering wheel 86, journaled in the forks of a steering post 37, suitable means being employed to turn the said post and steering wheel. As here shown, the post 37 is provided with a bevel gear 38 meshing with a bevel gear 39 on the shaft 40, journaled in fixed bearings 451 on the frame and provided with a hand wheel 42 within reach of the occupant of a seat e3.

Preferably the rear wheel is provided with an annular flange 44C, surrounding the hub 19 of the draft beam, and constituting a dust guard.

The chiefL stresses and strains incident to thel operation Vof the machine are sustained by the rear wheel and its hubs i6, no in jurious stresses and strains being communicated to the frame of the machine from the working members and draft beams.

As implied in the foregoingdescription and in the following claims, l am not limited to the specific mechanism of the preferred embodiment of my improvements shown by the drawings, except as otherwise required in certain of the more limited claims.

I claim: Y Y

, l. A farm implement, comprising a frame having a transverse axle, a wheel journaled toY rotate on said axle and supporting a portion of the frame, a draft beam mounted to oscillate ona center formed by4 said axle, and extending rearwardly and downwardly therefrom, a working member carried by said draft beam, a lever fixed to and oonstituting a vforwardly projecting `extension of the draft beam, a Ld manually operable Vmeans carried by the frame for swinging Y specified by claim l, the said manually operable means including a rack bar-vertically movable in fixed guides on the frame and loosely engaged with said lever, and a shaft journaled in fixed bearings and provided with a pinion meshing with the teeth of the raek bar. Y Y Y 3. A farm implement, comprising a frame having a transverse axle, a wheel journaled to rotate on said axle and supporting a portion of the frame, a pair of draft beams located at opposite sides of the wheel and extending rearwardly and downwardly from said axle, each draft beam being mounted to oscillate on a center formed by the axle, and provided with a working member, levers fixed to and constituting forwardlyprojeeting extensions of the draft beams, and manually operable means carried by the frame for swinging said levers independently to 1aise and depress the draft beams and the workingV members carried thereby, said means being organized to counteract lifting pressure exerted on the working members.

l. A farm implement of the character stated, comprising a frame having a transverse axle, a wheel having annular hubs pro- Vjecting from opposite sides of the wheel and Vand constituting forwardly projecting-exten- Y sions of the draft beams, and manually operable means carried by the frame for swinging said levers and draft beams independently.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature. v VJAl/IES E. RICH. 

